FEC Enforcement Statistics 1977-20191

(Updated March 11, 2019 to include data through February 28, 2019)

The following chart tracks the number of matters resolved, and the associated penalties, in the areas of FEC enforcement and alternative dispute resolution and the fines assessed each year under the Administrative Fines Program. The information for the current year is updated monthly. [PDF Version]

Matters Under Review (MURs)

Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)

Administrative Fines (AFs)

Fiscal
Year

Total Dollar Amount of All Closed Enforcement Matters

Total
Matter Under Review (MUR) Cases Closed

Total
MURs w/Conciliation Agreement

Average Civil Penalty per MUR w/Conciliation Agreement

Total MUR Civil Penalties

Total Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Matters Closed2

Total
ADRs w/ Approved Settlements

Average Civil Penalty w/ Approved Settlements

Total
ADR Civil Penalties

Total Administrative Fine (AF) Cases Closed3

Total AF Cases w/Fines

Average AF Amount

Total
AF Penalties4

Total AF Amount by Two-Year Cycle5

2019

$717,114

60

13

$39,877

$518,400

18

15

$8,803

$132,050

16

15

$4,444

$66,664

2018

$898,507

167

19

$29,747

$595,200

41

35

$4,728

$165,465

28

24

$5,743

$137,842

$584,560

2017

$1,894,073

151

24

$57,679

$1,384,300

21

15

$4,203

$63,055

200

176

$2,538

$446,718

2016

$787,983

148

30

$19,848

$595,425

38

26

$2,262

$58,800

44

36

$3,716

$133,758

$423,931

2015

$777,821

88

14

$24,755

$346,569

49

37

$3,831

$141,079

191

162

$1,791

$290,173

2014

$597,429

132

16

$12,890

$206,235

72

60

$4,256

$255,381

60

54

$2,515

$135,813

$763,221

2013

$1,394,648

134

30

$24,346

$730,390

33

17

$2,168

$36,850

217

185

$3,391

$627,408

2012

$887,786

77

24

$26,226

$603,200

41

37

$3,828

$141,626

48

45

$3,177

$142,960

$770,368

2011

$1,007,739

145

18

$29,285

$527,125

25

19

$2,313

$43,950

333

294

$1,485

$436,664

2010

$822,537

135

16

$42,013

$672,200

45

40

$2,328

$93,100

47

42

$1,363

$57,237

$493,901

2009

$1,468,727

228

31

$26,035

$807,100

80

73

$2,718

$198,395

337

284

$1,631

$463,232

2008

$2,442,454

71

23

$103,698

$2,385,043

11

7

$3,221

$22,550

28

13

$2,682

$34,861

$498,093

2007

$4,511,834

165

55

$73,427

$4,038,478

71

45

$1,931

$86,900

274

246

$1,571

$386,456

2006

$5,918,133

126

30

$179,499

$5,563,069

61

44

$3,001

$132,049

91

82

$2,720

$223,015

$609,471

2005

$2,088,954

80

21

$68,014

$1,428,300

82

49

$3,026

$148,250

224

206

$2,487

$512,404

2004

$3,461,275

72

26

$115,811

$3,011,095

43

26

$2,669

$69,400

138

112

$3,400

$380,780

$893,184

2003

$2,995,466

86

41

$54,034

$2,215,375

61

32

$975

$31,200

403

378

$1,981

$748,891

2002

$1,180,079

91

41

$20,236

$829,688

28

17

$1,353

$23,000

122

108

$3,031

$327,391

$1,076,282

2001

$1,488,733

128

59

$15,132

$892,780

37

25

$1,286

$32,143

361

344

$1,639

$563,810

2000

$857,500

148

74

$11,588

$857,500

1999

$937,605

147

34

$27,577

$937,605

1998

$1,096,299

213

48

$22,840

1,096,299

1997

$875,052

236

46

$19,023

$875,052

1996

$1,239,152

220

51

$24,297

$1,239,152

1995

$1,999,350

260

77

$25,966

$1,999,350

1994

$909,054

(incomplete data)

64

$14,204

$909,054

1993

$572,599

115

54

$10,604

$572,599

1992

$466,903

(incomplete data)

128

$3,648

$466,903

1991

$430,112

(incomplete data)

161

$2,672

$430,112

1990

$227,900

(incomplete data)

132

$1,727

$227,900

1989

$428,124

145

137

$3,125

$428,124

1988

$271,730

190

159

$1,709

$271,730

1987

$301,765

182

125

$2,414

$301,765

1986

$210,200

167

120

$1,751

$210,200

1985

$170,285

268

169

$1,007

$170,285

1984

$71,850

106

56

$1,283

$71,850

1983

$110,200

123

47

$2,345

$110,200

1982

$237,370

109

44

$5,395

$237,370

1981

$65,200

175

63

$1,035

$65,200

1980

$129,550

219

60

$2,159

$129,550

1979

$80,130

380

72

$1,113

$80,130

1978

$75,725

237

44

$1,721

$75,725

1977

$8,695

160

7

$1,281

$8,695

[1] As part of the upgrading of its information systems, the Commission has transferred historical enforcement matter information from an obsolete program to a modern database. Commission staff are continually reviewing historical files to verify the data entered for the years 1977- 1998. The information covering may be subject to modification as the data transfer is completed and verified.

[2] The ADR program started in October 2000.

[3] The AF program started in July 2000.

[4] A large proportion of Reason to Believe findings in Administrative Fine cases are made in connection with the reporting requirements surrounding the general election and the Year-End Report to close out the two-year election cycle. While the end of the election cycle falls at the end of the even-numbered calendar year, it falls in the first quarter of the odd-numbered fiscal year.